Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-09-16

Q Eyes, sir, my name is Choquart1Cho-
quart, do you hear, sirl who'll have
none Of this tomfoolery. Your wife
where is she, your wife2 She's young
and pretty, but wants to run a rig upon
me. Your wife, say, averred that you
were on your last legs, and would be as
dead as herring in less than six months,
and here you are, alive and kicking. Now,
is that the way you keep your engage
mentsl
"Ahi Monsieur Choquart," reioined
the merchant, who had somewhat re-
covered from his first fright, 81 have
been i'll, very i'll, indeed. You'll never
see me don the Turkish garb again.
IT'S over now. So let me ask you to
forgive and forget any improper thing
may have said on that eventful night.
"One moment" said Choquart, mot
quite SO fast, please. Do you tender your
excuses in the regular form"
"Faith, l don't quite understand what
form that is. But this l know, for l
have inquired about you and learned
that you are right good fellow. Come,
l have roasted leg of mutton with kid
MY OS"ho. WIN YOU w lhS luC uOllOI
to dine with me, you and your friend2
MY wife will be overjoyed. Aglae, why
don't you Gomez Here is NJ. Choquart,
who accepts an invitation to dine with
u.s."
OF course nodded assent, while it was
not over difficult to read on Choquart's
relaxing countenance that the roasted
leg of mutton had found the way to his
heart.
"Then again." added M. Ballu, who
now felt that he had the game in his own
hands, 81 have certain Madeira about
which l should like to have your opin-
ion, Monsieur Choquart.
You have no Madeira, SIR" retorted
Choquart, with deep frown upon his
eyelids.
"But-H
81 say you nave no Madeira, sir, " ex-
claimed the duelist, raising his voice and
gesticulating like mailman. "And
please take notice that l am not to be
contradicted on this point I have drunk
but one glass of genuine Madeira during
the whole course of my life. Twas at
the Tuileries. Yes, sir, l had just re-
covered from sickness, and was on duty
at the Kings dinner A glass of Madeira
having been poured out for Louis XVIII,
his Majesty, turning toward the cup
bearer, said: Hand that to Choquart,
and give him my compliments Doyou
hear me nowW
"But, Monsieur Choquart, I assure
you-"
II say that you have no Madeira,
sir, +" screeched Choquart, who had grown
furious, and brought his hand down with
terrific force on the wooden counter.
"If you once more dare to say that you
have Madeira wine I'll tear your head
clean off from your shoulders And
what else did you say you had"
"Well," said the merchant, who was
somewhat staggered at this sudden fit of
passion, "I've leg of mutton with
kidney-beans."
"A leg of mutton" said Choquart, in
a soft tone of voice, chats good, when
well roasted. But I'm confident twill
be overdone. Have you got such thing
as spit2"
"a SPITE I should say 1 had" burst
out M. Ballu, with kindling eyes. "Only
just pass this way, gentlemen and see
for yourselves.
The merchant led us into a comfortable
back shop, which answered the purpose
of dining-room. There on the hearth,
in front Of bright blazing fire, fine
leg of mutton majestically turned on a
spit, like planet round the sun.
"That looks nice, remarked Choquart,
after moment of silent contemplation.
"You are not altogether an idiot. A
man who knows the worth of spit de
serves to live. But why don't you bastt
your leg of muttonG" So saying Cho
quart took up the ladle, and began
pouring over the meat the rich steaming
juice. At that moment the merchants
wife came in.
"Ah, good day, madame, good day tt
you'll" said Choquart, as he leant ovel
and deluged the savory roast. "Well
you see what has happened. Your hus,
band isn't dead after all. Dear me, how
shall we get to arrange the matter3 Til
very provoking, very"
"Alas, sir, twas severe trial. God
in His goodness, has spared his life.
trust the lesson will be of service t.
him."
"God, in His goodness |" went on NUT
tering Choquart. "That's all very we'll
But we haven't settled our little Difficult
ty as yet"
"Come, now, Choquart," said I inter
rupting him pretty sharply, "we've ha(
enough on that score. NJ. Ballu ha
rendered you his best excuses in my pres
ence, and cordially invites you to dinner
what more do you want2"
Dear me, said Choquart, still fasci
mated by the leg of mutton, II do thinl
it is beginning to burn at the joint"
The difficulty was now over, and tn
duelist completely disarmed. We all hat
dinner. Choquart recounted his duel
to the upholsterer, and drank with grea
gusto his Spurious" Madeira.
y
Choquart died in poverty. For owe
twenty years he had lived on a small pen
sion granted him by the Comte de Cham
bord. When, however, he received tiv
hundred francs, his wont was to give hi
friends supper which cost the sam
sum, so that on certain days of the yea
he went supperless to bed. STILL he wa
extremely punctilious in money matters
Another chapter will throw ligh. on thi
side of his character.
Several years ago we were supping
after midnight, at the Vaudeville coffee
house. Among those present wer
Bouffe, the lessee and manager of tn
Vaudeville Theater; Briffaut, the jour
nalist; Doctor Lallemand, who was tn
nronrietor of the Pnssana RadziMiI. q